The University of Idaho and North Idaho College, in collaboration with the state’s mining industry, have introduced Idaho’s first Bachelor of Science in Geological Engineering.

Students in this program can choose to complete their first two years at North Idaho College before transferring to the University of Idaho to finish their degree, or they can opt to complete all four years at the University of Idaho in Moscow.

The curriculum integrates engineering principles with earth sciences, covering topics such as environmental best practices, renewable energy, natural resources, and modern mining practices.

According to U of I President Scott Green, this degree aims to address workforce needs by linking students to career opportunities that contribute to Idaho’s economy while focusing on innovation and environmental sustainability in the mining sector.

This new degree program builds on existing graduate-level geological engineering courses and mining-oriented undergraduate emphasis areas within the University of Idaho’s geology program, including sustainable mining, earth resources management, environmental hydrogeology, and energy resiliency.